Sectional roller



Nov. 11, 1941. B. H. FLYNN SECTIONAL ROLLER Filed Nov. '7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 11, 1941. B. H. FLYNN SECTIONAL ROLLER Filed Nov. 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WI 'Ntss Nov.1l, 1941. B. H. FLYNN SECTIONAL ROLLER a Sheets-Sheet s Filed Nov. '7, 1940 71/47 IIIIIIVIIIIII/ rllllll I I n I Patented Nov. 1-1, 1941 SECTIONAL nornnn Benjamin H. Flynn. Alexandria, La. Application November '2, 1940, Serial No. 364,739

' '1 Claims. (on. 94-50 I The invention relates to improvements in rollers having separate sections mounted in end-toend relation-and capable of oscillation to obtain better compaction, and the invention relates particularly to so called-sheeps-ioot rollers used quite extensively in compacting surfaces to desired depth preparatory to construction of high ways and the like thereon.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction for mounting the roller sections upon an axle, to permit vertical oscillation of said sections and to allow any section to bodily move vertically, insuring that passage of one or more roller sections over hard or compact earth, stones or the like, shall not 1 interfere with proper action of any section or sections.

A still further object is to mount the roller sections in a novel manner which will not entail wide gaps between said sections, this being par-' ticularly advantageous in connection with a sheep's-foot roller as the roller sections may be so spaced that the sheep's-foot tampers thereof will uniformly tamp the subjacent earth or the like throughout the width of the roller without leaving any untamped zones between roller sections, whereas such untamped zones are inevitable with the construction commonly used in rollers of this type.

Yet another object is to provide a roller of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction. one which may be readily shipped in knockdown form, one which may be quickly and easily assembled, and one in which the number of roller sections may be changed readily, if desired.

-With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawa suitable name III is employed having a tongue or the like II for connection with a tractor, or connection with an evener if the roll-' er is to be drawn by draft animals. The frame I0 includes parallel longitudinal side bars I2 and is preferably provided also with a rear bar I3 which may well carry cleaners I4 for the sh'eeps-foot tamping elements I5 of the roller sections I6. These sections are preferably hollow to contain ballast and each section is preferably formed with a ballast-inserting or removing opening I1 normally sealed by a bolted-on closure I8.

A single axle I9 is provided for the roller sections I6, the ends of said axle being secured to the frame side bars I2 by means of bolted-on angle brackets 29, said brackets having vertical flanges 2| bolted to said side bars I2, and other vertical flanges 22 bolted to the axle I9, said flanges 22 having convexly curved edges 23 for a purpose to appear.

The axle I9 is by preference formed primarily from an I-beam having its web. disposed in a vertical plane. At the ends of this I-beam, vertical plates 25 are welded or otherwise secured to the edges of the top and bottom flanges 23 and 21 of the I-beam, and at suitable locations between the ends of the beam, similar plates 23 are similarly secured to said top and bottom flanges. with flat vertical sides for a purpose to appear.

For each roller section I6, I provide two hubs 29 having vertically elongated openings 30 through which the axle I9 passes. The openings 30 are formed with parallel vertical sides 3|, and said openings are of greater vertical dimension than the axle I9. The sides 3| of the openings 30 of all hubs 29 except the two outermostv hubs, lie slidably against the plates 28 above described, and said sides of the openings of said two outermost hubs, lie slidably against the plates 25. The hubs are thus held against rotation upon the axle but may vertically move thereon to permit the roller sections to bodily move vertically with respect to each other or to relatively oscillate.

The outermost of the hubs 29 abut the convex edges 23 of the angle brackets 20, and I provide spacing plates 32 bolted to the plates 23 to space the roller sections I6 apart, said spacing plates having convex edges 33 which abut the adjacent hubs 29. Thus, the roller sections are held in proper relative positions upon the axle and the spacers will not interfere with any required movements of said roller sections.

Each roller section I6 is preferably formed The plates 25 and 23 provide the axle with a central tubular member 3 which rotatably surrounds portions of the hubs 29, and I prefer also that the end walls 35 of each roller section be provided with annular flanges 36 surrounding the outer end portions of said hubs, the peripheries of the latter being provided with thrust shoulders 31 which prevent endwise shifting of the roller sections on said hubs.

As usual, the sheeps-foot tempers I5 of the roller sections are disposed in circumferential rows, and due to the improved construction which I have invented for mounting said roller sections upon the axle, the space 38 between the circumferential rows of tampers at adjacent ends of any two of the roller sections, need be no greater than the spaces 39 between the circumferential rows of any one section. It is thus insured that no untamped zones shall remain between roller sections during one pass of the machine over the area to be compacted.

Not only is the construction above described or an equivalent construction of advantage in permitting oscillation of the roller sections for more uniform compaction, allowing either end of any section to lower beyond the other end if required for thorough packing, but any section may bodily move vertically with respect to the adjacent section or sections, should this be necessary when working upon uneven surfaces having some more or less solid zones and other relatively soft zones. It is thus insured that uniform compaction to desired depth shall be attained, whereas this is virtually impossible with prior roller constructions. struction is such that it may be easily and inexpensively manufactured, may be readily shipped knocked down and may be quickly and easily assembled by the purchaser. Moreover, should it be desired to remove one or more of the roller sections for any special work, this may be readily accomplished.

While one practicable form of construction has been illustrated, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the exact structure disclosed, attention being again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A roller comprising a frame, a rigid axle non-rotatably secured to said frame and havin parallel vertical sides, hubs each having an opening through which said axle extends, each of said openings being of greater vertical dimension than said axle to allow vertical movement of said hubs on said axleand oscillation of said hubs in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of said axle, each of said openings being provided with parallel vertical sides which contact slidably with said parallel vertical sides of said axle to prevent rotation of said hubs, independent roller sections spaced apart longitudinally of said axle and having bearings rotatably engaged with said hubs, and means for holding said hubs against shifting longitudinally of said axle, said means for preventing shifting of said hubs longitudinally of said axle including spacers secured against at least one of said vertical sides of said axle and having convex hub-abutting edges.

2. A roller comprising a frame having side bars, an axle extending between said side bars and having flat vertical sides, angle brackets having vertical flanges secured to said frame side bars and other vertical flanges secured to said flat vertical sides of said axle, said other Then too, the con-.

flanges having convex edges, pairs of hubs having openings through which said axle passes, the two outermost of said hubs abutting said convex edges of said brackets, said openings being of greater vertical dimension than said axle and having vertical sides contacting slidably with said vertical sides of said axle, independent roller sections rotatably mounted on said pairs of hubs, and means on said axle holdingsaid roller sections in spaced relation, said means having convex hub-abutting surfaces.

3. A roller comprising a frame having side bars, an axle extending between said side bars and having flat vertical sides, angle brackets having vertical flanges secured to said frame side bars and other vertical flanges secured to said flat vertical sides of said axle, said other flanges having convex edges, pairs of hubs having openings through which said axle passes, the two outermost of said hubs abutting said convex edges of said brackets, said openings being of greater vertical dimension than said axle and having vertical sides contacting slidably with said vertical sides of said axle, independent roller sections rotatably mounted on said pairs of hubs, and means on said axle holding said roller sections in spaced relation and including a plate secured to one of said flat sides of said axle, said plate having convex hub-abutting edges.

4. In a roller, pairs of hubs formed with vertically elongated openings, independent roller sections mounted rotatably on said pairs of hubs, an I-beam extending through said hub openings and having its web disposed in a vertical plane, and flat vertical plates spaced outwardly from opposite sides of said web and secured to the edges of the top and bottom flanges of said I-beam, the outer sides of said plates being in sliding contact with opposed side walls of said hub openings.

5. A roller comprising a frame, a rigid axle non-rotatably secured to said frame, hubs each having an opening through which said axle extends, each of said openings being of greater vertical dimension than said axle to allow verticalmovement of said hubs on said axle and oscillation of said hubs in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of said axle, said hubs and axle having coacting slidably contacting portions which hold said hubs against rotation during their vertical movements and oscillation, independent roller sections spaced apart along said axle and having bearings rotatably engaged with said hubs, and spacing means on said axle between the hubs of adjacent roller sections, said spacing means having convex substantially vertical surfaces abutting said hubs and in rockable and slidable contact therewith, whereby any of said roller sections may oscillate vertically with respect to said axle and may bodily move vertically with respect to said axle.

6. A roller comprising a frame, a rigid axle non-rotatably secured to said frame, hubs each having an opening through which said axle extends, each of said openings being of greater vertical dimension than said axle to allow vertical movement of said hubs on said axle and oscillation of said hubs in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of said axle, said hubs and axle having coacting slidably contacting portions which hold said hubs against rotation durin g their vertical movements and oscillation, independent roller sections spaced apart along said axle and having bearings rotatably engaged with said hubs. and p g means on said axle between the hubs of adjacent roller sections, said hubs being in slidable and rockable contact with said spacing means, the vertical extent of contact of said spacing means with said hubs being so short that said spacing means cannot hold said hubs against the aforesaid oscillation, whereby any of saidroller sections may oscillate vertically with respect to the axle and may bodily move vertically with respect to said axle.

'7. A roller comprising a frame, a rigid axle non-rotatably secured to said frame, hubs dis-' tributed along said axle and each having an opening through which said axle passes, each of said openings being of greater vertical dimension than said axle to permit said hubs to move vertically with respect to said axle and to oscillate in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of said axle, said axle and hubs having contacting surfaces holding said hubs against rotation, independent roller sections spaced apart longitudinalljv of said axle and having bearings rotatably engaged with said hubs, and hub-abutting means on said axle having substantially vertical surfaces with which said hubs contact slidably and rockably, the vertical extent of contact of said hub-abutting means with said hubs being so short that said hub-abutting means cannot hold said hubs against the aforesaid oscillation, whereby any of said roller sections may oscillate vertically with respect to said axle and may bodily move vertically with respect thereto.

BENJAMIN H. F'Lm 

